Dough divider



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L v 2 INVENTOR HENRY E'VL/N MNH QQQQSQ m 2 .F

,June 10, 1930. H DEVUN y DoUGH DIVIDER Filed Feb. 25, 1928 June 10, 1.930. H. DEvLlN 1,763,345

DoUGH DIVIDER Filed Feb. 25, 1925 '2 sheetsheet 2 CHAMBER MASI/RING CHAMBER TRANSFER INVENTOR ATTORNEY y /II.

Patented June" 1o, i930 UNITED STATES AT HENRY iinvtim `or `SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, `AssIGNoa` To BAKER PERKINS! COMPANY, INC., oFsAGINAW, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION on NEW YORK Thisinvention relates to a -dougli divider that converts adough supply received from a "mixerinto a number of individual dough pieces and delivers them to the next step of 5 thebreadmaliing process, namely, the loaf formingvor rounding operation.` ,i

` As will be disclosed in the specification, the

characterized and l `ie dough dividing machines of the prior art are `its ability to receive in its hopper a mass of `dough that contains random gas-filled voids `caused by fermentation and to convert it rapidly into loaf pieces `of, uniforin density and accurate vveightaltho-ugh they are measured byvolume; to maintain the de- Sirable` elastic qualities of the gluten in the dough by avoiding Wiredrawing, ham- `mering and excessive `pressure conditions that have `heretofore obtained in dough dividers; to transfer the dough pieces through the successive stepsV of the inachines .straight .lines and by the shortest possible i routes; to avoid compressing the dough pieces i until j ust before the linal severing and to immediately return the remainder piece of dough to the hopper, reincorporating it with ,the `dough mass instead of leaving it in the tofore and spoilingr its elasticity by reworking. v i e j i V The present invention is adaptedeither to i single loaf or multiple loaf dividers and consists primarily as above indicated, in a novel arrangement of thevsupply hopper and measand of bothin relation to the transfer cham- `fiber.

o i i Inad-dition to the above primary objects of the invention certain other important objects i more or less dependent upon them are ati change 1the setting of the machine from snfiall loavesto the production of large loaves, or vice versa. This adjustment is more than a mere mechanicalexpedient, for it has to do with the prime functionsof the machine in thatV it `also brings about a proportionate change in 50 the amount of pressure applied to the ends of `1` features by `which this invention is essentially `differentiated from the tion, Whereas `high speed operation by moving the dough masses in4 0 intermediate or pressure chamber, as `heree uring` chamber With relation to each other,

v tained suchas abilit to uickl and easil i y q y y Athe remnant dough piece being returnedito i DOUGII `niviiinn Application ledl February 25, 1928. Serial No. 256,967.

large or small `dough pieces, reducing them to substantially the same `degree ofdensity before `being severed.

`Means is also provide dough pieces.

Accurate Weight from volumetric measurement is thus assured ref gardless of loaf size.

for preventingtoo great pressure on the A still further Objectis to make the machine lsafer forthe operator by avoiding` the use of heavy Weighted levers `and like pressure devices heretofore commonly` employe frequently Juries caused by responsible for `personal inthe suddenoperation ofthe mechanism if the Weight dropped accidental- The present invention insuressinoothnese of operation, because it givessteady reliable pressure on the dough at all rates ofproduch operation in Weight-actuated `machine doesV not give steady dependable pressure, but a series of repercussions or hammering stresses that i ar the entire machine and causechattering, be-

sides injuring the dough. i

lVith the foregoing and certain other "0b.-

jects. ini-view, which will appear later in the specification, mvinvention comprises the de `vices described and `claimed and the equivalents i, thereof.

` In the drawings Figi.` l is a part `vertical section through the dividing head and transfer chamber, showing the hopper in register Yith the transfer chamber. i

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, showin the measuring` chambenin register `Withjthe transfer chamber.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional detai showing the relative locations ofthe ram of the transfer chamberfand the measurin plunger just previousto pushing the dough `into the measuring chamber.

3 is a View similar toF ig. l, showin the hopper ,also showing the actuating mechanism for the ram.

Fig. et is a longitudinal sectional `detail of the link element thatoperates the ram.

Fig. 5 is a part sectional side vievv of the for small loaves, as shown respectively at H and H in Fig. 2a.

` The functionfof the measuring plunger30` to assume a temporarily fixed position `at such height inthe measuring pocket 6*? as corresponds tothe size of the desired dough j `piece and to `remain there `until themeasuring` pocket has been iilled withdough driven in by the ram 14,` then to move down and expel thedough `piece after the "latter `has been sheared ofi` as a resultof the sliding movement of the dividing head,5, 6.

`The above described` operations of the measuring plunger 30 are derived from the samecam 18 and pivoted arm 16 that operate the ram 14. Suitable operating elements connecting the oscillating arm 16 and the mea-V suringplunger'j30. are shown in Figs. `5 and 6, Vwhere a connecting rod or link 31 is pivoted at its lower end to the oscillating arm intermediate its ends.. The upper end of this link is pivoted to across-head32, `so that thelink moves the cross-head up and down. `The cross-head-isfguidedby a pair of arms j with bearings 33 at their ends. The bearings are slidable up and down onupright guide hars 34 which `are located at the sides of the f to the top of the machine where the measuri "g ing plunger-s3() are attached to it. The up- "right guide hars 34 constitute part of this vertically movab-le framework, the` structural details of which will be described later.

j During the operationof the machine the swiveled screw 37 does not rotate, being `used only as a connectmgelement through which the link 31 andcross-head 32 are enabled to move the frame up and down for actuating the measuring plungers 30. `Turning the i screw adjusts the distance between the i i threaded boss 33 and the cross-head 3 2 whenever itis desired togvary thevertical lift of the measuring plungers in order to bring aboutl `different `dough t measurements i and produce'larger loaves or smaller loaves. j rilie details ofthe framework that carries i the measuring plungers 1s shown 1n Figs. 5,

6. 7, where` a horizontal bar 39 extending `through the plungers 30 from side to side has `its endsprojecting outwardly at the sides of t i the machine and supportedin two bearing members 4() which are slidable along parallel horizontal ways 41. The ways are supported at their back and front.` ends on brackets 42 fixed to the upper ends of the vertically slidable guide bars 34 previously mentioned.

`The function ofthe ways 41 is to permit the measuring chamber 6 to slide` freely back and fort-h with the dough hopper without aifecting-its upand-down movement.

Referring now to the functions of` the `vertically movable frame, still noting Figs. 5, 6, 7, it is seen that the two guide bars 34 travel together, being rigidly connected to threaded boss 38, and that whatever up-anddown l'novement is given to the crossfhead 32 by the link 31 is transmitted screw 37 tothe boss 38,`thence to the upright guide bars 34 and to the measuring plungers 30. i.

vWhen the screw is revolved for adjusting loaf sizes it; acts to raise or lower the reciprocatingij frame and the measuring plungers with relation to `the cross-head 32.

It is to be observed that the cross-head always `stops its upward travel inthe same` place corresponding to thepeak lift of the cam 18gthatactuates it. The top limit of lift j of the measuring plungers 30 depends, `however, upon the adjusted position of the threaded boss 38 on the screw37. Adjusting the boss upward by rotating the screw will cause the measurmg pockets to produce larger loaves, or vice versa.`

j. The screw is bored axially as shown in` 5 and is formedwith an internal longitudinal keyway 28. In the channel thusmade spline shaft`43 is slidably received. The

spline shaft is suspended from a swivel bear ing 44 in a bracket thatis fixed to the frame 2 `of the machine and can be rotated by means of bevel gears45and either of two hand wheels 46.

through the Turning either of these hand wheels automatically sets the measuring plunger to produce larger or in the way above described.

The amount of dough that is taken into the transfer chamber 4 at each operation is` always kept automatically proportioned to the size of the dough piece that is to be delivered from measuring pockets 6a, since the effective travel of their respective plungers smaller loaves 14 and 30 is derived from the same oscillating arm 16, Fig. 3, `but at different radial distances `from its pivoted end 17. This ratio is maintained regardless of changes inthe actual size of the dough pieces tobe measured. The operating mode `of the `,machine will now be described considering the cycle of operation as divided into six principalsteps. A`-VVith the dividing head positioned as `in Fig. l transfer` chamber 4 fills with dough from supply hopper 5 with the downward `movement of ram 14. i

B-The dividing head which includes both the hopper andthe measuringchamber slides to the `right on plate 1 to the j osition shown in Fig. 2, cutting oif the supply from the hopper to the filled transfer chamber and bringing the measuring pockets 6a into register with the opening of the plate l andtransfer chamber 4 as shown in Fig. 2a. i

C-The ram 14 and measuring plungers 30 move upward at the same time under the action of oscillating arm `16. but the ram 14,

i. ltotheend ofltlfiirn" moves -l' erm` 16 compresses the spring -whic'h pots z Soi ber eXerlte'cl by; 'rain 14; aginstthe` doiiglrpiefce;

jlizedfto;expel thelsurplus dough piece'lft mdf-transfer;Chfimber; nite? f llves'lhaveib'een Severe' vdou :pressedglspring 25js pushedl upA through hole 3 ntofsupply 'hopperfwhere it isinorj pora'tedfwitlthe main dough mass. Heretheg 'uncler'atmospherijpre'ssure While rthefloives the Vmeasuringrfpockets;Gtes shown in Figlil:

eiferg Vthat the( inmeriti-velv Vatorsf finvolvedin Y. this :conception een-be enuloodiedv ini` different@ theY fmeasui di eration thefcori'tltion is i that have just been measured -re ej eeteclffrom; Y

'meestirring.A phi-ngers "3Q,"resi1lting from their hopper {fandjeep able' of! rriovng Yllternaiselyi'` therewith i-ito eri'cl out Off register With said holefiid- Y also inf shearing lreliti'on with the plate,` i ltr'ensferfehainberf communicating with the:V hole *fait the sdeo theplzitel oppo; site V'the hopper alidfneasurhg Vchamber @ineensfor-prodiicingsagi'l 'relative movements #ofy the `r'ne'fisUrin chainberghopper end, pletel y transerJmea-nstorinovingmiiteral'from theqj Lhopper tothe:transfer'ehamberendffrom the l trans feriaghimberiintoy he In'easi1`-'1i11gv chain loer and siinulteneouj Compfictinp-g*VY it; oom pf-isms in 2th,@'@miser-:chimes '1a plungerinfthe mesfiirn-g Chamb@ indimeans; ,for Vsnfiiiltzuilefoiislyfeotiating them'in eo-opf eratisze` "reletionwiththe'rnoyenents" :ofthe ma-Suringf "chamber (mclliojgip er yWherebjynzt 5. A dough dividing inechanis1ncoinprising a dividing head including a supply hop-` per and a measuring chamber having pockets `with plungers slidable therein, a plate having an opening and a transfer chamber with a ram slidable therein incommunication with said opening, actuating meansfor producing relative sliding movement of the dividing head and the plate to bring the mouth ofthe `supply hopper and the mouth of the measi uring hopper alternately into register with the mouth of the transfer chamber, actuating devices for simultaneously moving the said measuring `plungers and transfer ram in the same direction buit at relatively different rates of travel to cause themto approaeh each other during their transfer stroke for compacting a piece of dough between them andto "move apart during their `return stroke, a eompressible spring element,

operatively interposed between said rain and its actuating means, serving to limit to a predetermined amount the pushing force of p the ram against the dough piece and also to return to the hopper a surplus dough reinnant from the transfer chamber, said actuating devices provided with adjusting means for altering the length of travel of said measuring plungers and said transfer rain so that p the amount of maximum pressure is also altered proportionatelythereto.

i 6. In a dough dividing mechanismhaving a transfer ram and a measuring plunger,

i I1actuatingineans adapted to impart t0 said `rain `and plunger, differential movements whereby a dough piece received between i them is progressively compacted during its v passage 'from a transfer chamber to a meas-H` uring chamber, a spring element constituting a yieldable cushion-like backing forsaid ram to limit the amount of pushing force that can be exerted by the ram against the dough piece, and furthermore adapted when freed to expand and thereby cause the ram to eX- pel from the transfer chamber a dough remnant.

7. `In a dough dividing mechanism includ- "ing a supply hopper and having a transfer ram and a measuring plunger mechanically connected together so as to be differentially movable and adapted to compact a dough i piece between them during its passage from a transfer chamber to a measuring chamber,

a yieldable backing for said ram tolimit the amount of pushing force that can be exerted by the rain against the dough piece, and

, "furthermore adapted to expand when freed andto thereby cause the ram to eXpeL-a dough reinnantfrom the transfer chamber into the hopper. i

l 8. In a dough dividing machine of theclass described, an apertured plate, a dividing head y comprising a stationary doughreservoir, a i hopper movable to-and-fro along said plate j" relatively `to said reservoir, a measuring chamber integral `with said hopper, and a transfer chamber communicating with the aperture of said plate, for the purposes `set forth. In testimony whereof, I aiiixiny signature;

`HENRY DEVLIN.

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